The Lighter Side of Technology

Robert Scoble teased you few weeks ago about a new Microsoft Research project that made him cry.

Today we learn more about this endeavor.

At TED conference, Microsoft showcases “Worldwide Telescope,” which aims to allow a PC to simulate a powerful, ground-based telescope. The software borrows millions of digital images that are part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and other sources, such as NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

Researcher Curtis Wong demonstrated the technology for attendees, zooming out from Microsoft’s Redmond campus to view Earth and then zooming farther out, beyond our galaxy, to show the Big Dipper and several other galaxies from the same vantage point.

Microsoft research head Rick Rashid said the project does for space what MSN’s Virtual Earth does for our planet. “I love the idea of being able to just sit at my home and explore space, since I am unlikely to get there any other way,” said Rashid, a self-described huge Star Trek fan. [Via Cnet]